Speed-indicator.



M. LEITCH.

SPEED INDICATUR.

APPLmATlou min JULY 25.1914.

1 1 50, 1 30. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETS-shin 1.

M IliNilms HuIlunmnuullmmml M. LEITCH.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPucmoN man muy 25.1914.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEU 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

HEREDITH LEITCH, OF POUGHKEEPSIE,

SEPARATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

SPEED-INDICATOR.

f Letters Patent.

Specification o Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application led July 25, 1914. SeISkNO. 853,029.

To all whom it may concern:

4Be it known that I, Muni-:01TH Lnrrcrr, a citizen of the United States, residin at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, New ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Indicators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de- Scription.

My invention relates to a speed indicator for a rotating shaft and has for its object to produce an accurate audible speed indicator. It further'has for its object to produce a speed indicator which is simple and inexpensive.

In man devices, of which cream separators may e cited as an example, it is necessary for the best eliciency that the speed be maintained at a uniform rate, or at least be not permitted to fall below a given rate. There are many forms of tachometer which will indicate to the eye the speed at which a shaft driving one of them is revolving, but these require that the attendant be close to the machine; that he have a good light and closely watch the indications. They are also expensive. The cream separators above referred to are often operated, particularly on winter mornings and afternoons, in places where the light is poor. They frequently are driven b a dog, goat or other power, so that eitcept fiar the necessity of watching the speed, the attendant might be at some distance during much of the time while the machine is in operation.

The object of this invention is to provide aninexpensive indicator, giving a notice audible at a considerable distance from the machine when the speed is too high or too low. The improved indicator has a bell, which, if the speed is low. is rung once every revolution of the shaft that it is desired to regulate. If the speed is above a certain rate, the bell is not rung. This bell is loud enough to be heard at a considerable distance and so obviates the need of close supervision by an attendant. The indicator consists of a bell, a hammer to strike and ring the bell, and means to cock and release the hammer, and a device. which when the speed is above a given rate. shields the bell from the st ."ikcr and thus prevents the ringing of the bell,

The following is a description of speed indicators embodying my invention, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings,in w ich,-

Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing the principle of operation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an indicator embed g my invention; Fig. 3 is a section of t e indicator of Flg. 2 on the line 3 3; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in horizontal section of another and the preferred form of indicator; Fig. 5 is a rear side elevation of the indicator of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section of another modifcationon the line 6-6 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7 7, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section of another modification on the line 8 8, Fig. 10; Fig. 9 is a similar section with the' parts in a different position; Fig. l0 is a section on the line lO-lO, Fig. 8f

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l is a bell or gong.

b l21 is a striker tending to move toward the 3 is a revolving cam which acts to move the striker away from the bell. It has a release point 10.

4 is a. shield, in this case shown as a continuation of the cam, which, when the speed is above a given rate, prevents the striker from ringing the bell. The shield and cam are mounted on the shaft A.

In the o eration of this device the cam and, if desired, the bell also, is rotated in a clockwise direction. This cocks or raises the striker to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon an additional movement releases the striker, which moves by some force, such as gravity, toward the bell.l If the parts are revolving slowly enough, the striker hits the bell. If, however, the parts are revolvin at a sufficiently high speed, the end` of the shield 4 comes between the striker and`the bell so gel 1to prevent the hammer from hitting the In the device shown in Fig. 2, l is the bell; 2 is a pivoted striker; 3 is a cam having an indentation forming a release point 10', and an intercepting portion 4. The cam and the bell are mounted upon a shaft A so as to rotate therewith. The operation of the device is similar to that shown in Fig. Vl. the Striker 2' hitting the ,bell when it is released by the shoulder 10' if the speed is sufficiently low, and being intercepted by the shield 4 if the speed is suiciently high to bring that portion beneath the striker before it hits the bell. In this case thedirection of p rotation is clockwise.

ent positions it will indicate different rates of revolution. The striker is provided with a horizontal extension 13,- which engages the ed e of the cam. The cam is provlded with a easing shoulder 102 and an |intercepting portion 42. The enga 'ng pol'tion 13 and the striking portion o the striker are on opposite sides of the axis of the rotating shaft. In the operation of this device the cam and the bell are rotated clockwise 5) with the result that when the shoulder 102 releases the bearing portion 13, the striker is free to fall so that the lower end of the striker hits the bell if the speed is below a given rate. If the speed is sufficiently high, however, the intercepting portion 42 intercepts the extension 13 so as to prevent the lower end of the striker from itting the bell.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a ball is used as a striker. In this modification la is the bell. 2 is the striker. 3 is the striker-raising and releasing means, and 4? is the intercepting portion. The parts 3 and 4B are carried by a disk 14. In order to form a race for the ball a member 15 is provided. The parts 14 and 15 are cut away as at 16 to expose a portion of the bell to the action of the striker. The portions 14 and 15 are connected to the revolvin shaft As so as to rotate therewith. The bel is preferably provided with a projection 17 adjacent to the intercepting portion 4a for the purpose hereinafter described. jWhen this projection is used, the bell also is secured to the shaft so as to rotate therewith, as shown. modification, the shaft is rotated clockwise, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 7 The striker-raising portion with its release shoulder 103 lifts the ball 28 to the position shown, whereupon it falls, and if the speed is sui'icientl low strikes the bell 18 or the projection 1 or both. If the speed is sufficiently high so as to move the intercepting portion 43 between the ball and the bell be fore contact is made with the bell or the lug 17, the bell is not rung.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8, 9 and In the operation of this i 10, 1* is the bell; 2* is the striker; 3 is a releasing abutment; and 4* is an intercepter. The intercepter and releasing abutment are mounted on the plate 144 and together with thebell are secured to the shaft so as to rotate therewith. Within the bell is a standa'rd 18 having near its base an annular groove, within which the shank of the striker freely slides. The shlank of the striker is provided with an elongated opening 19 surroundin the base of the standard and is also provi ed with a hook 20, which engages the releasing abutment 3* at certain times. The intercepter is also provided with a lateral projection or stud 21 for the purpose hereinafter described. The operation .of this d evice is as follows: The parts rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 8. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8 and the rotation is continued, the action of gravity upon the striker causes the hook 20 to release the abutment 3* so thatv it is free to fall toward the bell. It thereupon falls toward the bell and strikes the same if the speed is sufficiently low. If the speed is suiliciently high vto bring the intercepter 4 between the striker and the bell before the striker reaches the bell, the intercepter 4*A prevents the ringing of the bell. As the parts continue to rotate, the stud 21 en ages the strikerand causes 1t to rotate wit the other parts, until it has been rotated nearly 180. It then falls downward so that the hook 20 comes adjacent to the portion 3* and on further rotation tips over until the hook 20 engages the portion 3*, as shown in Fi 9. Th'e hook 20 stays in en gement wit this part during the next hal revolution of the parts until they reach the position shown in Fig. 8 and are thereafter released, as heretofore described, whereupon the operation is repeated. In all these cases, it 1s to be noted that means other than centrifugal force are relied upon to cause the striker to strike the bell, and that gravity is preferably the force employed. It is also to be noted that they employ means for moving the striker from the be l, and that the striker is released and permitted to strike the bell if the speed is low, and prevented from striking the bell if the speed is hi h.

As will be evident to those skilIed in the art, my invention permits of various other modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a speed ieator for a revolving shaft, -,the combination of a gong, a strikeradapted to strike the gong, means rotating withrthe shaft for cockin the striker during one portion of the revo ution of the shaft and releasi it during another portion of such revolution, and a means moving with said shaft for preventing said striker from striking the gong when the speed of the shaft exceeds a given frate.

2. In a speed indicator for a revolving shaft, the combination of a gong, a striker tending to move toward said gong to strike the same, a cocking and releasing means, and an intercepting means for preventing said striker from strikin the gong when the speed of the shaft excee s a given rate, both.

of said means revolving with said shaft.

3. In a speed indicator for a revolving shaft, the combination of a gong, a striker tending to move toward said gong to strike the same, a cooking and releasing means, and an intercept-,ing means for preventing said striker from strikin the gong when the speed of the shaft excee s a given rate, both` of said means and said gong revolving with said shaft, and said means being inelosed by said gong.

4. n a speed indicator for a revolving shaft, the combination of a gong, a strike-r tending to move toward said gong to strike the same, a cooking and releasing means, and an intercepting means for preventing said striker from strikin the gong when the speed of the shaft excee s a given rate, said gong being bell shaped and inclosing said cam and striker.

5. In a speed indicator for a revolving shaft, the combination of a gong/a striker tending to move toward said gong to strike the same, a cooking andreleasing means, and an intercepting means n? preventing Uoples o! this patent may be obtained for Said suiker from striking thev gong when yam speed of the shaft exceeds a given rate, and

, a support to which said striker is pivoted.

6. In a speed indicator for a revolving shaft, the combination of a gong, a striker tending to move toward said gong to strike the same,'a revolving coclng-and-releasing'- means, and an intercepting means for preventing said striker from striking the gong when the speed of the shaft exceeds a given rate, said gong being bell shaped and inclosing said means and striker, said striker having a portion remote from the striking head thereof engaging said means, and a normally stationary mem er to which said striker is pivoted.

7. In a speed indicator for a revolving shaft, the combination of a gong, a striker tending to move toward said gong to strike the same, a revolving cooking-and-releasingmeans, and an intercepting means for preventin said striker from striking the gong when t e speed of the shaft exceeds a4 given rate, said ong being bell shaped and inclosing sait? means and striker, said striker having a portion remote from the striking head thereof engaging said means, and a normall7 stationary member to which said striker is pivoted, said member being adjustable about the axis of revolution o said means.

MEREDITH LEITCH.

Witnesses:

W. B. Mmmocx, E. LOUNDSBERI DU Bois.

ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, DL G.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,150,130

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,150,130, grnnted August. 17, 1915, upon the application of Meredith Leitch, of Poughkeepsie, New York, for

an improvement in Speed-indicators, en error appears in the printed specifica` A tion requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 2l, for the word "1easing read releasing; and that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 7th day of September, A` D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner qf Patems. 

